Taylor Hale | July 17, 2023 | Personal Injury
9 Things You Should Know About a Free Lawyer Consultation in Lake Charles, LA
Hale Injury Lawyers offers a free legal consultation to evaluate your personal injury claim. This consultation allows you to speak with an experienced attorney about your legal options. Whether you are involved in an auto accident, a workplace accident, or have suffered other serious injuries, you can schedule a free consultation with a personal injury lawyer. Read on for 9 things you should know about a free lawyer consultation.
#1: What Is the Statute of Limitations for Your Personal Injury Case?
It is best to contact a personal injury lawyer immediately after an injury is sustained. If not, you must consider if deadlines were missed or if the case has expired. Failure to file a personal injury lawsuit in a timely fashion can result in forfeiting compensation. In Louisiana, the statute of limitations for a personal injury case is only one year from the date of injury – though there are exceptions.
Setting up a free lawyer consultation right away can help make a difference in your case. It allows you to understand deadlines, explore legal options and enables evidence and witnesses to be more readily available.
#2: Learning About Your Lawyer
Before scheduling your free lawyer consultation, it is important to do your homework. You should research the attorney before consulting with them. Justia, Superlawyers, and the Louisiana State Bar Association are helpful places to start your research.
During the consultation, you should get to know the attorney and determine if you feel that they are qualified to handle your case. Consider if the attorney answers your questions and is familiar with personal injury matters.
#3: What Should You Bring to Your Free Lawyer Consultation?
It is important to bring any information pertaining to your injury. This includes any documents, records, statements, or reports that you have.
The following are examples of documents to bring to your consultation:
- Accident reports
- Photographs of the accident and injuries
- Citations or tickets
- Police investigation notes
- Witness statements
- Self-taken notes
- Doctor’s notes and emergency room notes
- Medical records
- X-ray and MRI results
- Automobile and health insurance cards
- Other driver’s information or information about the location of the accident
Providing documents, records, statements, and reports can help your attorney to provide you with a plan of action to pursue compensation.
#4: Bring Your Updated Notes and Records
It is essential to take your own notes immediately following an accident, which should include what happened during the incident that caused the claim and the harm or injury that resulted.
The following are examples of what you should note after an accident:
- What occurred before, during, and after the incident
- Time and place of the incident
- Weather conditions
- Witnesses and statements
- Your physical and emotional experiences during and after the accident
- Type and extent of mental and physical injuries
- Medical treatment received or anticipated
- The effect of your injuries on your work, social and personal life
- Time missed from work
Providing this information can help your attorney determine potential damages to pursue through a personal injury claim. Your notes can be a great place to start; once you retain a lawyer, they can do a more thorough investigation.
#5: Give a Detailed Account of Your Accident to the Attorney
The consultation gives you the opportunity to state what happened during the accident or injury. The attorney will also ask you questions to learn the facts and assess your circumstances. This is also a trial run for potential depositions or a jury trial.
#6: Bring a List of Questions
The consultation is a chance for you to ask questions about the process and the attorney. Use your time wisely and come prepared with a list of questions. These questions could discuss medical treatment payment, the personal injury process, or how personal injury attorneys are paid.
#7: Ask About the Viability of Your Personal Injury Claim
You can gain valuable insight into the viability of your claim during your free initial consultation. The attorney will discuss if your case is worth pursuing based on the facts and circumstances of the situation. If an attorney informs you that your case is not viable, then you can seek a second opinion if you want to continue.
#8: Discuss Attorney’s Fees and Compensation
Many personal injury attorneys work on a contingency fee basis. These attorneys only receive payment if they are successful in recovering compensation for your injuries through a successful judgment or a settlement. This allows you to obtain legal representation without paying a flat fee.
#9: Discuss Next Steps
This is your opportunity to ask what the attorney’s next steps are and if there is anything that you should be doing. While you wait, focus on recovering from your injuries. You may have mounting financial expenses, and it is important to provide your attorney with updates on your medical treatment and costs so that you can recover adequate compensation.
Contact our Lake Charles Personal Injury Attorneys At Hale Injury Lawyers For a Free Consultation
Our legal team at Hale Injury Lawyers is here for you when you need skilled, trusted, and aggressive personal injury lawyers after an accident. We will explain your legal options and how we can help you receive a fair settlement for your personal injury claim.
Contact an experienced personal injury attorney at Hale Injury Lawyers today at (337) 888-4253 & schedule a free initial consultation today.
Hale Injury Lawyers
1735 Ryan St Lake Charles, LA 70601
(337) 888-4253
